Oct. 18, 2007
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -
After clinching the Black and Gold World Series on Wednesday, Gold picked up right where it left off by routing Black 9-3 in an abbreviated Game 4 on Thursday afternoon at Hooks Stadium.
Mike Murray finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs, and Andy Goff went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs to lead the Gold attack. Brett Linnenkohl was 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as well.
Starter Charlie Mellies earned his second win of the series, pitching three scoreless innings. Mellies surrendered five hits, struck out two and walked one.
Gold plated a run in the first off Black starter Ben Hunter. Goff reached on a one-out single and came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Murray.
Gold touched up Hunter for two more runs in the third. Linnenkohl led off with a single and then stole second. Goff drove him in with a single, and Allan Dykstra followed with a walk. Murray then brought in Goff with an RBI single.
Gold blew the game wide open with five runs off reliever Matt Hammond in the fourth. Brandon Lloyd reached on a one-out walk, and Ryan McGrath followed with a single. Linnenkohl followed with a double down the left field line to score Lloyd.
Goff made it back-to-back doubles, driving in McGrath and Linnenkohl. After Dykstra was issued a walk, Murray capped the rally with a two-run double to give Gold an 8-0 lead.
Black finally got on the board with two runs in its half of the fourth. Reliever Joel Ernst hit Ben Terry to lead off the frame. One out later, Steven Brooks launched a two-run home run to left center.
Gold was able to get one of the runs back in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a Black fielding error.
Black finished the scoring with a run in its half of the fifth. Dustin Hood led off with a double and scored one-out later on a double from Tyler Smith.
Hunter took the loss for Black, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings of work. Hunter struck out two and walked two.
Brad Kledzik, who was originally a member of the Gold squad, pitched 1 2/3 innings for the Black. Kledzik did not allow a hit while striking out one.
Ernst pitched two innings of relief for Gold, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk.
Smith led the Black offense, going 3-for-3 with a double and one RBI.
Murray has now had at least one hit in all four games of the series.
With the series already decided on Wednesday, the Demon Deacons played an abbreviated 5 1/2 inning game. Thursday was also Wake Forest's Scout Day. A host of professional scouts were on hand prior to the game.
The Black & Gold World Series wraps up on Friday with Game 5. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at Hooks Stadium.
